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The Weekly Owl
November 19, 2025
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IMPORTANT DATES & REMINDERS:
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November 20: Balloon & Float Parade - Building 1 Event (9:30 a.m.)
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November 20: Native American Showcase/Feast (Primary Prep through 1st Grade - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.)
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November 21: Native American Showcase/Feast (2nd through 5th Grade - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.)
- Thanksgiving School Closures:
- Early Learning: November 27 & 28 (3:00 p.m. release on November 26)
- Preschool: November 27 & 28 (Optional Care available on November 24 & 25; 3:00 p.m. release on November 26)
- Elementary: November 24-28
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A Heartfelt Thank You
As we head into Thanksgiving break, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for our Collage families. Your partnership, encouragement, and trust mean more to us than words can fully capture. Each day, we are reminded that the strength of our school community comes not only from our students and staff, but from the families who support, uplift, and believe in our mission.
Thank you for sharing your children with us, for your engagement in their learning, and for the countless ways you contribute to the warmth and vibrancy of our school. We are honored to be part of your child’s journey and deeply grateful for the community we build together.
We wish you a joyful, restful, and meaningful Thanksgiving break surrounded by those you love.
With Gratitude,
Collage Staff
| | | | Family Engagement: The Powerful Role of Families | | |
November is Family Engagement Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the powerful role families play in shaping a child’s learning, development, and well-being. Parents and caregivers are essential partners in education, and your involvement helps your child thrive both in and out of the classroom. Family engagement leads to strong, positive relationships between your family and your child’s educators, and supports the growth and development of your child.
Why Family Engagement Matters
When you are actively involved, your child has greater school success through:
- Increased motivation to learn
- Fewer behavioral challenges
- Improved impulse control, attention, memory, and planning
Everyday Moments Matter
You don’t need extra time or fancy tools, just use daily routines to spark learning. Here are some questions you can ask your child during mealtimes:
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What color is your fruit? Ask your child to select their favorite fruit from a bowl and tell you the color.
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What shape is your sandwich? After making a sandwich together, cut the sandwich into a square and circle. Talk about the shapes and how they are different.
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How many grapes do you have? Gather grapes in a bowl and ask your child to count the number of grapes they add to their plate.
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Read, Sing, Play – Every Day
Reading with your child daily is one of the most powerful ways to boost language and literacy skills. Make time each day to:
- Read a story together
- Sing songs
- Play games that encourage imagination and connection
Explore Collage's BOM Table
A great way to increase family engagement is our BOM - Book of the Month - Table. Our BOM Table showcases a special story selected for each age group, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Each book is paired with simple, engaging activities that connect to the story’s theme and support early literacy, creativity, and hands-on learning. Families are encouraged to explore the books and ideas together to help bring the love of reading home!
| | | Taking Time to Express Gratitude & Calm Our Minds | | Thank you for joining us in honoring Veterans at our Veterans Day Flag Ceremony! It was truly an honor for our staff and students to recognize the commitment and sacrifice made by Veterans in attendance and those throughout the country. | | | |
This is an exciting time of year, full of fun and festivities. Sometimes, we find ourselves feeling frazzled and exhausted (and a maybe a little grumpy, too). This month in yoga, we are working on creating moments of calm through using breathwork, focusing our mind, and stilling our bodies.
Here are some techniques we've been using that you can try at home:
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5 Finger Breathing: Trace the outline of one hand with the index finger of the other hand while taking slow, deep breaths in and out.
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Still as a Statue: Find an object to focus on (calm-down jars work great for this), set a timer, and try to be as still and quiet as a statue while focusing all of your attention on that object. Start with 15 seconds and then work your way up to longer times.
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One Hard Thing, One Good Thing: Take a moment at the end of the day, maybe in the car on the way home, around the dinner table, or as part of the bedtime routine, to share one hard thing and one good thing that happened that day.
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At Collage Day School, every decision we make begins with your children in mind. Over the years, many of you have shared a common hope that the Collage experience, with its nurturing environment and individualized approach, could continue beyond 5th grade. We have listened closely, and your feedback has helped guide us into an exciting new chapter for our school.
We are thrilled to share that when students return from Thanksgiving break, we will officially launch our on-campus 6th grade class! This expansion is the first step of a full middle school pathway at Collage, with plans already underway to continue through 7th and 8th grade. Our goal is simple: to ensure your children can grow academically, socially, and emotionally within the same trusted environment where they have always been known and cared for as if they were our own.
We are also delighted to welcome Mr. Peter Carmichael back home to Collage. Many of you will remember Peter from his time teaching 5th grade here before stepping into the Director of Education and 6th grade instructor roles at The Mandala School. His return brings familiarity, leadership, and a deep understanding of our community. Peter will guide our middle school program while teaching our new 6th grade class, providing the stability and strong relationships that matter so much to our students and families.
This new middle school program will continue the Collage tradition of meaningful, student-centered learning. Students will take part in rich, interdisciplinary projects that challenge them to think critically, collaborate thoughtfully, and make real-world connections across subjects. Our vision includes hands-on exploration, outdoor learning, community partnerships, and opportunities for leadership development, all designed to help students discover their strengths and build confidence as they move toward young adulthood. And, as always, this will all unfold within the warm, supportive environment that defines Collage and honors each child as an individual.
We are truly excited for what lies ahead and grateful for your trust as we continue to grow thoughtfully with your families in mind. Please stay tuned for additional updates and upcoming campus enhancements as we build an inspiring future together.
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Mental Health Moment of the Week: Practicing Gratitude
Gratitude is more than something we focus on in November. It is a practice proven to positively impact sleep, social well-being, and emotional regulation. Take time to reflect on how you express gratitude at home. Consider asking your child to share one thing, person, or experience they are grateful for on the way home from school each day.
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Note from Nurse Chelsea
Nature Time = Stronger Immunity
Why it Matters: Outdoor play lowers stress, increases vitamin D, and exposes kids to healthy microbes that train the immune system.
Tips for Parents:
- Weekend walks - Enjoy family hikes or nature scavenger hunts.
- Leaf collecting - It's a fun fall activity and increases outdoor exposure.
- Playtime outside daily - Even 20 minutes helps!
- Nature crafts - Use pinecones, leaves, and sticks for art projects.
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Eat the Rainbow: Fig Newtons for the Win!
Lower school students continue learning through Collage's Eat the Rainbow program. Students are exploring foods by color each month. This month's color is brown.
Learn more about Fig Newtons:
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Nutrient Spotlight: These treats are made with figs that provide fiber, calcium, and natural sugars for energy.
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Health Benefits: They support healthy digestion and bone health while offering a satisfying, naturally sweet treat.
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Kid-Friendly Tip: Pair one with a glass of milk for a balanced snack or crumble over yogurt for a fun twist on dessert.
| | We encourage families to join in at home. Let's all make healthy eating fun and colorful! | | PARENT COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (PCA) NEWS | | |
Looking for a simple way to support Collage? Join our PCA Volunteer List!
Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet other families, and make an impact. From fun nights to fundraisers, we rely on our amazing volunteers.
Whether it’s helping with set-up, check-ins, clean-up, or behind-the-scenes tasks, there are plenty of ways to lend a hand. When an event is scheduled, we’ll send out a sign-up form outlining the roles needed—just choose what works best for you!
📌Click here to learn more.
Stay connected: Follow us on Facebook at CDS Parent Community Alliance.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567861563027.
Bridget L. Van Landingham
President, CDS Parent Community Alliance (PCA)
| | THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: | | | | |
